The Coyotes are averaging just over 12,250 fans per game through the first four home games of the lockout-shortened season. That ranks last among the National Hockey League’s 30 teams.

The Coyotes averaged 12,420 fans last season (worst in the NHL) and 12,200 the season before that (second worst), according to ESPN.

The two Coyotes home games on the first weekends of the season drew larger crowds of around 14,800 against the Los Angeles Kings and 17,400 against the Chicago Blackhawks.

Attendance has been a quandary for the Coyotes for several seasons in Glendale. The team draws well for the playoffs, which it has made the past three seasons. The team also draws well for weekend games, especially against teams from Canada or markets with transplanted fans in the Valley.

But the Coyotes routinely draw four-figure crowds for weeknight home games against the likes of Nashville and Columbus.

That will be a bottom-line issue to overcome if Greg Jamison’s investment group beats a Jan. 31 deadline to buy the team and keep it in the Phoenix market.

Across town, the Phoenix Suns are seeing an attendance slide during their subpar, rebuilding campaign. The Suns are 25th among the 30 NBA teams. The Suns are averaging 14,800 fans per game this season, according to ESPN.

That compares with the team’s average crowd of 15,600 last year and 17,600 the season before.